As the Sabarimala Ayappa Temple is all set to open tomorrow for a special puja, the Sabarimala Karma Samiti, a joint platform of right wing outfits such as Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Hindu Aikyavedi had appealed to the media houses urging them not to assign women reporters in the hill top shrine. This is the second time the doors of the shrine is opening after the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of all ages to enter, PTI reported.

Spearheading Agitation

The SKS is spearheading the agitation against the Supreme Court order allowing women of menstruating age to enter the shrine, citing the deity of the temple, Lord Ayyappa is a Naishtika Brahmachari (celibate). Last month, when the hill top shrine was opened for monthly puja for five days, apparently, the first ever time after the court order, women reporters, who went to the shrine as part of their reporting assignments were heckled and their vehicles were damaged through stone pelting by the angry mob of protesters in addition to attacking the women devotees and forcing them to go back. The mob, consisting of Hindu fringe groups laid a siege to the road leading to Sabarimala.

In a statement sent to all editors and a copy of which was released to the media as well, SKS stated that even the entry of women journalists who come under the menstruating age group are likely to aggravate the situation. The statement further said, “Recognising your right to support or oppose the devotees stand on this issue, we hope you will not take a stand which would aggravate the situation.”

On November 5, the doors of the temple will be opened in the evening for puja on the occasion of Chithira Aattavisesham the following day, the birthday of the last King of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, said the report. The doors of the temple will be closed at 10.00 on November 6, only to be reopened on November 17 for the three-month long annual pilgrim season.

As the temple was thrown open for women of all age groups to enter the hilltop shrine of Sabarimala to pray the Lord Ayyappa at the Sannidhanam, protesters frisk vehicles to stop menstural women entering the temple, even as the curfew under Section 144 is in force. The curfew is in force at Nilakkal, Pamba, Sannidhanam and Elavumkal today. Many of the protesters were arrested at Pamba including the right wing activist, Rahul Easwar.

The LDF Government in Kerala is trying to implement the Supreme Court verdict last month, granting women of all age groups entry into Sabarimala temple. As the doors of the temple was opened for the second day today, amid police presence, the furious mob is still indulging in frisking vehicles to look for menstural age group women from entering the hilltop temple. A New York Times reporter tried to enter the temple but the protesters send the scribe back. Yesterday saw chaotic scenes enroute to the hilltop shrine at Nilackal, the gateway to the foothills, where furious mob indulged in pelting stones at the police. The pitched battle continued till late in the evening, where scores of people were injured in the stone pelting. Many women journalists were heckled and their vehicles damaged due to heavy stone pelting. The protesters from the Hindu fringe groups laid siege on the road leading to the temple.

In a latest development, the All Kerala Brahmin Association had approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of the verdict in September that allowed women of all ages in the shrine. News agency ANI reported that plea stated that the verdict suffered from several serious errors that have resulted in ‘grave miscarriage of justice’ for genuine devotees of Lord Ayyappa.

Blame Game

There were blames and counter blames going on over the issue. PS Sreedharan Pillai, the President of BJP Kerala unit said the mob attack on women journalists that happened yesterday was a conspiracy hatched by the ruling CPI (M). He told ANI that around 300 strong police force, who were yet to complete their training were posted in the trouble prone area of Sabarimala and the scene was created.

Apparently, the Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, in a tweet, blamed the Rasthtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the outbreak of violence at Sabarimala Temple. The Chief Minister Tweeted: “Sabarimala has a uniqueness that other temples lack; it allows entry for people of all faith. Sangh Parivar and RSS have always been intolerant of this fact. They have made many attempts to erase this distinction of Sabarimala.”

Also, in a Facebook post, Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the RSS was trying to spread terror. “Sabarimala itself is the opposite of obstacles to a believer’s journey, the RSS is spreading terror and trying to discourage them. These movements motivated by upper caste are intended to break the basic character of Sabarimala,” the Chief Minister wrote.

BYJM Volunteers detained

As per News18, many Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP were detained in Nilakkal for staging a protest. While speaking to ANI, the Inspector General of Police, Government of Kerala, Loknath Behra said that the police will provide protection to all pilgrims. “We will add more police personnel and secure all routes.”

While speaking about the New York Times scribe Suhasini Raj, who went back to pamba from her journey to shrine after the mob send her back, Behra said, “She was not forced to come back, she came back.”

Meanwhile, while acknowledging the violence committed since yesterday, the head priest of Sabarimala Temple, Kandararu Rajeevaru had urged the devotees for the custom of Sabarimala Shrine to be maintained. ““It’s a dangerous situation. Most of the devotees are disparate after SC verdict. It’s my request that please maintain system and custom of Sabarimala temple. I don’t agree with violence. It hasn’t been done by devotees but by others,” Rajeevaru told ANI and added that the devotees wanted to follow the old custom to be followed.

“Supreme Court thinks only about the law of the land, not about the customs & traditions. So many devotees still want that the old custom should be maintained. I have only one opinion, which is based on the old custom and tradition”, the head priest added.

RSS Reaction

In an apparent reaction to the mayhem that is going on in Sabarimala, the RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagwat today said that the Sabarimala verdict had not considered the premise of tradition that prohibits mensturating women from entering the temple.

Bhagwat told ANI, “This tradition had been there for so long and was being followed. Those who filed petitions against it are not the ones who will go to temple. A large section of women follow this practice. Their sentiments were not considered.”

Nationwide Shutdown

As the statewide 12-hour strike had been announced by Sabarimala Protecction Committee, there is no movement of buses across the state. Even the state-run road transport corporation has not plied its buses. The commercial markets also remained closed including Kozhikode, PTI reported.

Meanwhile the NYT journalist Suhasini Raj told the media, who was asked to go back from the venue, who was on her way to becoming the first woman to enter the hilltop shrine after the SC verdict, was forced to abandon her journey by the irate mob, after which she returned to Pamba police station.

“I was given an escort by Kerala police, they had done a fantastic job. During my trek, we encountered protesters who were against my presence. They pelted stones at us & Kerala police protected me,” she told News18. Police told ANI that Suhasini Raj returned after seeing the crowd. “When she reached Marakoottam, she decided to come back after seeing the crowd. Police was ready to take her,” ANI quoted them as saying. If she climbed the hill, she would be the first woman of the menstrual age group to visit the temple after the Supreme Court order.

Non-bailable warrants were being issued against those behind attacks on journalists, State Industries Minister, EP Jayaraj was quoted as saying by CNN-News18. Also, the right wing outfit, Antharashtriya Hindu Parishad, led by Pravin Togadia and the Sabarimala Samrakshana Samiti, another outfit of devotees had called for a 24-hour-long hartal starting midnight Wednesday. Also the Union Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday took cognisance of the incidents of violence that took place in Sabarimala on the first day over the Sabarimala row, ANI added.

Braving the ban on gathering of more than five people in Sannidhanam, Pamba, Nilakkal and Elavungal, the furious mob continued stopping women devotees from entering the hill shrine of Sabarimala. The situation is tense, but under control, as a 12 hour state wide shutdown has been called by a group that calls itself the Sabarimala Protection Committee, NDTV reported. Vehicles are off the roads and many shops are shut. The Kerala unit of the BJP is extending support to the shutdown, while the Opposition leader and Congress senior leader, Ramesh Chennithala termed the issue in hand at Sabarimala was “not one of gender equality.” Except the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Congress, BJP and few Hindu groups are opposing the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning the centuries-old bar on mensturating women between ten and 50 years entering the hilltop Sabarimala Temple of Lord Ayyappa.

Chenithala said that the CPI (M) led LDF Government in Kerala has not even bothered to file a review petition, while the BJP and RSS were out to create issues. The issue here, according to him, was of faith and traditions. The temple opened to devotees yesterday and the protesters blocked women from entering the shrine and clashed with the police and even attacked women journalists. Meanwhile, the State Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan had warned that no one would be allowed to stop devotees going to Sabarimala.

It was for the first time after the SC verdict came on September 28, 2018 that the Sabarimala shrine was opened yesterday to facilitate devotees to have darshan. By ending the age old ban on mensturating women from entering the Sabarimala Shrine, citing that the presiding deity, Lord Ayyappa is Naisthika Bramachari (Eternal Celebate), the judges opined that ‘devotion can’t be subject to discrimination.’

Humongous crowds took to the route leading to the hilltop shrine to block women. The frenzied mob resorted to violence and vandalised media vehicles and pelted stones at the police. Women health workers and police constables on duty were targeted too by the angry mob, who pelted stones at the police and were in turn cane charged at Nilakkal and Pamba. Those indulged in arson and vandalism were rounded up by the police. According to Loknath Behra, Chief of Kerala Police, there was heavy presence of police in and around Sabarimala. “None will be stopped nor will anyone be allowed to take law into their hands. Anyone can come and pray.” the officer said.

The LDF Government has accused the attacks as politically motivated. Meanwhile, Kadakampally Suredran, the Minister in charge of Devasoms, who was at the hilltop shrine overseeing the arrangements, urged the protesters to stop creating trouble. “The Sabarimala issue should not be allowed to flare up. The Government has no other option other than to ensure that the Supreme Court’s order is implemented,” the Minister added.

Despite warnings of “mass suicides” and disruption, the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala will open its doors on Wednesday – this time for women devotees of all ages as well. Tensions are running high in Kerala as the gates to the hill shrine will be opened for the first time since the Supreme Court lifted the age-old entry ban on women in the 10-50 age group, as per IE report.

As devotees make their way to the shrine, the police has detained multiple protesters for blocking the pilgrims. Representatives of the Thandri (priest) family and members of the Pandalam Royal family were detained. The BJP, in a warning to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said, “The protest will change the face of Kerala.” Kerala BJP leaders also warned of “severe consequences” if the police lathicharge “Hindu devotees.”

This is despite Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warning of “stern action” against those who prevent devotees from going to Sabarimala. “We will ensure security to all. Nobody will be allowed to take law into their hands. My government will not allow any violence in the name of Sabarimala,” Vijayan said and ruled out any rethink of his government’s decision against seeking a review of the Supreme Court order, noted the report. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which runs the hill-shrine, met the Tantri (head priest) family, the Pandalam royals and members of the Ayyappa Seva Sangam on Tuesday to reach a consensus on the issue and will further discuss it on Friday.

Woman forced to return from steps of temple

Madhavi, the first woman who attempted to enter the Sabarimala Temple was turned back from the steps of the shrine amid the protests over the Supreme Court verdict. Citing a report in The News Minute, the IE report said that the police had to push the crowd away as they were trying to escort Madhavi and her family to safety. The group had to return as the police failed to accompany them after a point and left the shrine dejected, while the NMT also reported that 50 people have been booked for blocking Madhavi’s way.

Representatives of Royal family detained in Pampa

Representatives of the Thandri (priest) family and members of the Pandalam Royal family were detained in Pamba for protesting against the Supreme Court’s verdict that allows women of all ages in the shrine. Reacting strongly on the development, Kerala BJP leader Shobha Surendran warned of “severe action” if the police touch “any Hindu devotee.” Talking to reporters in Pamba, she said, “I am warning the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan that if the police resort to lathi charge on Hindu devotees, the BJP will firmly rally behind these pilgrims. I also want to tell the CM that consequences will be severe.” Adding that the protests will change “the face of Kerala,” she asked, “Why were the members of the priests family and the royal family detained when they did nothing to provoke. They were protesting peacefully. I also want to tell the CM who persisted to get the SC verdict delivered in favour of the govt that there will be severe consequences.” Shoba, along with K Surendran and MT Ramesh are undertaking Nama japa (prayers) at Pamba, added the report.